Governor Martin O’Malley has made targeting the rights of law-abiding gun owners a legislative priority this session and your help is needed to stop the assaults on the Second Amendment in Annapolis! O’Malley’s anti-gun legislation was introduced this week as Senate Bill 281 and its companion, House Bill 294, was introduced last night. SB 281 has been referred to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and will be heard on February 6. At this time, there is no hearing date scheduled for HB 294, but it is expected to be heard soon. Both of these bills are expected to move very quickly through the legislative process, so it is imperative that you contact committee members and your own state legislators IMMEDIATELY and urge them to oppose this legislation! Additionally, plan to testify on February 6 before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in opposition to SB 281.

Neither of these bills propose any viable solutions to prevent violent crime. These anti-gun proposals have been tried in the past as an easy “solution” - and have been proven resounding failures across the country. Criminals simply do not obey gun bans, register their firearms or comply with any gun control schemes. As a result, only law-abiding citizens will obey the law and be left defenseless. The following misguided policies can be found in Senate Bill 281 and House Bill 294:

A ban on the transport, sale, purchase, transfer or possession of commonly owned semi-automatic centerfire rifles that have a detachable magazine and one additional characteristic – such as a pistol grip, telescoping stock, flash suppressor, threaded barrel etc. under the political misnomer “assault weapons.” ALL currently owned regulated firearms ( so-called "assault rifles") must be registered with the Maryland State Police before November 1, 2013, and persons moving into Maryland must register all regulated firearms (including handguns) within thirty days of residency.

Further restrictions on magazine capacity to allow for no more than ten rounds.

Require a state license to purchase, rent, or receive a handgun. This license is renewable every five years upon re-application with all attendant fees. This license would be obtained from the Maryland State Police after prospective gun purchasers complete a mandatory 8-hour gun safety class, submit their fingerprints to a state-run database, and undergo an extensive background check – in addition to the federal background check. All of these new requirements have fees that only penalize law-abiding gun owners.

The NRA-ILA will continue to update you on these matters as details become available. It is of the utmost importance that you act NOW to stop all attempts to ban firearms and enact more ineffective and onerous gun control laws.

Please contact the members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee before their hearing on February 6, and continue to contact your state senator and delegates. If you wish to give testimony during the hearing, information on how to do so can be found here.

Contact information for your state legislators can be found by clicking here .

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Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.